Art Quote by David C. Driskell
“I hadn't had any course work in ceramics. I had no courses in art education but I wasn't going to let this chance to have a job pass me by. I went out and learned and I stayed one step ahead of the students by reading and I got to be pretty proficient at throwing on the wheel and making my own glazes, ordering the chemicals and having the students go out and dig and process their clay, and doing things that they weren't teaching at Howard University. So Talladega College opened up my whole sensibility about experimental teaching.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Oral History, Howard University, 2015
He describes self‑directed learning and proactive teaching, turning a lack of formal training into an innovative, hands‑on curriculum.
In simple terms: Learn by doing and stay ahead of students.
Key Takeaway
Embrace experiential learning.
Themes
education
self‑learning
innovation
Mood
reflective
motivated
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- art classes
- studio workshops
- teacher training programs
Key Concepts
pedagogy
craftsmanship
Questions to Reflect On
- What skills can you acquire outside formal education?
- How can teachers innovate beyond curricula?
A Different Perspective
Self‑teaching may lack formal credentials or resources.
![“In the middle of my second year at school, in 1943, I got drafted into the army, was gone for three years, and when I came back, I tried to get into the painting classes which I wanted, but because of all the returned GIs [the GI Bill], everyone was in school and the classes were all full. So I…” quote by Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e62/warren-mackenzie-4654_army_in-the-middle-of-my-second-year-at-schoo_674284.jpg)
